According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hearing loss is a decrease in your ability to hear or understand speech and sounds around you. Loud music is particularly harmful and can damage cells and membranes in the inner ear (cochlea). Listening to loud music for a long time can overwork hair cells in the ear, which can cause these cells to die. The hearing loss progresses as long as the exposure continues. Harmful effects might continue even after exposure has stopped (CDC, 2020).
In 2015, the World Health Organization warned that 1.1 billion young people were at risk of hearing loss due to personal listening devices and loud music venues in which sounds may reach 120 dB for hours on end (80 dB and lower is considered safe).
Disorders caused by Music-Induced Hearing Loss·
- Distorted or muffled sounds
- Tinnitus (a ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears or head).
- Hyperacusis (Decreased sound tolerance)
- Diplacusis (Distortion of pitch)
Ways to Minimise Hearing Loss from Music
- Set a volume limit and stick to it (no more than 4 hours per day at 70% volume or 90minutes per day at 80% volume)
- Use earplugs /ear muffs at live concerts or other loud environments
- Take listening breaks from music
- Use speakers instead of headphones
How often do you listen to loud music? Have you ever been to an Audiologist to get your hearing examined?
